palanquin

The story

1. Sanskrit · derived fromपल्यङ्क
2. or · derived fromପାଲଙ୍କି“litter”
3. Portuguese · borrowed frompalanquim“Asian litter, litter-bearer”
4. English todaypalanquin

From Portuguese palanquim (“Asian litter, litter-bearer”), from Odia ପାଲଙ୍କି (pālaṅki, “litter”), ultimately from Sanskrit पल्यङ्क (palyaṅka), variant of पर्यङ्क (paryaṅka, “bed, couch, litter”). Doublet of palki.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• 1588 An enclosed human-borne litter or sedan chair, a large box with a chair, couch, or bed raised on horizontal poles and used as a mode of transport.